Sydney weather: Not much chance of cricket as coasts cop a soaking

The consolation for those getting wet on the way back into work on Monday is that at least their holidays aren't being disrupted by the rain.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall for parts of the south-east of NSW, while regions to Sydney's north, such as the Hunter and Central Coast, are likely to cop a soaking as well.

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"There's one long system bringing rain from Queensland's central coast all the way down to Victoria and South Australia," Rob Sharpe, a meteorologist with Weatherzone, said. "All the places where people are enjoying holidays are pretty wet."

Sydney should collect at least 20 millimetres of rain on both Monday and Tuesday, raising the likelihood that little cricket will be played on days two and three of the third Test between Australia and the West Indies.

Sunday's scenes at the SCG are likely to be repeated on both Monday and Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images

The morning session was interrupted several times by rain before play resumed after lunch. More rain, though, has arrived, with the covers brought out yet again. (See our live coverage here.)

Monday is likely to have fairly consistent periods of rain, with few dry periods to allow the Sydney Cricket Ground to recover. Tuesday is likely to have longer dry spells but even then there may be little chance of play, Mr Sharpe said.

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Jake Phillips, a senior forecaster at the bureau, said Sydney was likely to have bouts of rain during Monday.